(This story was updated to add new information.)
Sarasota’s newest attraction, the Mote Science Education Aquarium — also known as Mote SEA — opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8.
With immersive exhibits, cutting-edge research, and habitats for creatures ranging from manatees to penguins, the Mote SEA is more than just an aquarium — it’s a launchpad for discovery.
Located at Nathan Benderson Park near the popular University Town Center shopping and dining district — along the Sarasota-Manatee county line and highly visible to travelers on Interstate 75 — the sprawling campus will welcome guests eager to explore its 146,000 square feet of aquatic wonders.
How to get tickets to Sarasota’s newest aquatic attraction?
The best and only way to get your tickets to visit all the animals living in their new, $130 million home at 225 University Town Center Drive is to go online at mote.org and reserve your tickets and time or – if you’re planning on multiple visits, consider purchasing a Mote membership.
Members are entitled one or multiple free tickets depending on the type of membership purchased.
Because of anticipated high demand, all tickets for the foreseeable future come with assigned entrance times that guarantee entry.
Mote members still must use the same ticket portal.
There are 13 admission times to pick from, in half-hour augmentations, starting at 9:30 a.m and ending at 3:30 p.m.
How much does it cost to visit Mote SEA?
Adult admission can range from$32 to $37, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit.
Youth admission can range from $24 to $29, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit.
Children age 2 and younger are free
An Individual membership costs $100 a year, with members entitled to daily admission. A “Party of Two” membership – which allows the named member to bring one guest – costs $125 a year.
Memberships are also available for parties of four, six, eight and 10. Consult the website for exact pricing.
It’s also possible to buy gift memberships for friends and relatives who visit regularly.
Why is Mote SEA special?
About 110,000-square-feet of the 146,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to marine science, education and immersive public experiences.
Education is a key aspect of the aquarium.
Three interactive STEM teaching laboratories will be available for K-12 students in Sarasota and Manatee counties free of charge.
In 2024, 50,934 students attended education programs on City Island. Officials anticipate that number to increase with the opening of Mote SEA.
There are also five STEM Workforce Training Labs, covering aquaculture, conservation, coral, the use of artificial intelligence, and a veterinary clinic/diagnostic center.
New animals include a colony of Humboldt Penguins that typically reside along the Pacific Coast of South America; and a giant Pacific octopus.
The Gulf habitat – the largest at Mote SEA – features a 400,000-gallon tank.
Overall, Mote SEA features more than one million gallons of living ocean exhibits.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Mote SEA opens Oct. 8. How to get tickets to Sarasota’s $130M marine science marvel
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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